Penny Williams

Penny Williams is a Professor in the School of Management at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), within the Faculty of Business and Law. Her research focuses on digital platform work, algorithmic management, and the gig economy, with a particular emphasis on organizational justice, labour processes, and remote work dynamics. She leads projects funded by the Australian Research Council and collaborates with institutions like the QUT Centre for Decent Work and Industry.

Williams has extensively studied the implications of digital technologies on work arrangements, including automated management systems and their effects on employee autonomy and managerial control. Her work addresses gender dimensions of platform work, contractual fairness, and the ethical use of HR technologies. She has published over 49 peer-reviewed articles and policy submissions, including key findings from national surveys on digital platform work prevalence in Australia.

Her research highlights tensions between algorithmic control and worker agency, as seen in studies of surveillance technologies and their framing by HR providers. She advocates for equitable workplace policies, contributing to parliamentary inquiries on workplace surveillance and digital transformation. Williams also engages in educational initiatives, such as co-creating industry-linked learning resources to bridge academia and practice.

• Affiliations: QUT Centre for Justice, QUT Centre for Decent Work and Industry
• Grants: ARC Grant DE230100950 (2023)
• Policy Contributions: Submissions to Australian Parliament inquiries on gig economy contracts, workplace surveillance, and advanced manufacturing.

Her work spans interdisciplinary collaborations with experts in human resources, technology, and social sciences, advancing understanding of modern work challenges in the digital age.